About the Project
Investigating the disappearance of visionary designer Helen Liu Fong from American design history, architect Mina Chow is haunted by her own fears of being forgotten.
In a 40-minute experimental documentary exploring the power of architecture to connect people, we piece together the life of a woman whose absence is felt by the lasting presence of the places she designed. After twenty-five years married to her work, Helen quits her job and falls into obscurity. Despite her important role in shaping numerous coffee shops, including Norm's, Bob’s Big Boy, and Denny’s, Helen disappears from the public eye. Rumors abound, and no one is certain what happened. Mina’s pursuit of answers about Helen’s disappearance is at the core of this story; an archetype for a cohort of talented, underrepresented artists who were systematically erased. What's left of the life and work of an artist after she's gone? Why does it matter and to whom?